Bubble tip anemone help.

[Ryde]

This is those same nems from the first pic before we litterally scraped them off a rock with a knife. Some were damaged pretty bad too but never lost one...point being, if your water is good they are hard to kill. Hard to believe they are the same nems as the first pic I posted eh lol. I like the way they look all bubbled up way better

This is giving me hope with mine lol. Not a single on died which is amazing!

 

[Dom]

So Im reading up on"how to lower alkalinity" so far I've found 3 ways. If you have tried any of these ways I would like to know how it went. Here are the following:

1. Wait and let corals consume access alk. (Since my alkalinity is so high Im going to pass.)
2. Water changes 25% or 20% water changes everyday can lower your alkalinity.
3. White vinegar apparently lowers alkalinity instantly. Although your pH will suffer by going down. (Is this safe to use?)

Wait it out.

I understand that you want to correct the problem. But we aren't even certain the elevated ALK is the issue with your Nem.

 

[Ryde]

Wait it out.

I understand that you want to correct the problem. But we aren't even certain the elevated ALK is the issue with your Nem.

That is true. Whether my alk is the problem or not my alk isn't right so I at least try and fix it right?

As far as I know I would say this would have to be it. My alk has always been 280 or close to it. Ever since I first put the nem in it's changed I mean a lot.. it's size, color, bubbled tentacles. I'm just worried lol, I don't wanna this this cool dude..

Here is what it looked like a week after I got it.

 

[jtf74]

I love these top down shots.

It's a look down tank so my only option.

Thank you for being respectful. Also man you got some good looking nems! So your saying don't feed every other day? Don't quote me on this but from what I've heard/seen/read they do benefit from food to. I think when it comes to feeding it has to be done the right way for it to be beneficial. Now feeding every day with larger pieces of food then yes I can see this becoming harmful for a nem.

They don’t need fed every other day. They don’t need fed period. Again mine haven’t been fed in over three years and my fat maroon aint leaving a speck of food for them. They just need good light and from what I understand a low level of nitrates.

 

[Cabinetman]

If you’re using Rodi water and not dosing anything and using instant ocean salt if your dkh really is that high the only thing I can think Of that would cause your dkh to test that high is your salt level is right through the roof or your using the waiste water instead of the treated water coming out of your Rodi unit to mix your water change water

 

[spiraling]

Two of us have mentioned it may be a water quality issue.

It's possible alk is the problem. You can swing PH when you adjust alk, so if you are going to lower it you should do it over several weeks. Before you lower it you need to know why it is high. rodi + you salt should not make it that high, unless your salinity is also really high, or you are dosing. CA of 480 is also high but not a problem at that level. I would certainly recommend getting the LFS to test if for you to make sure its not your test kit. They can check salinity as well.

Phospahte of 0 also isn't good, but if you are using API you probably cant get a good low reading.

Have you considered an ICP test on your tank? That would tell you all the amounts plus tell you if there are contaminants.

 

[Dom]

That is true. Whether my alk is the problem or not my alk isn't right so I at least try and fix it right?

As far as I know I would say this would have to be it. My alk has always been 280 or close to it. Ever since I first put the nem in it's changed I mean a lot.. it's size, color, bubbled tentacles. I'm just worried lol, I don't wanna this this cool dude..

Here is what it looked like a week after I got it.

Again, wait it out.

The way you do that, is to test weekly, and monitor the drop in ALK.

In fact, it may be a good idea to do an Alkalinity test today. Then, do another alkalinity test at the same time tomorrow.

Subtract the number you get tomorrow from the number you get today and that will give you your consumption rate.

By doing this, you will be able to calculate how long it will take for your alkalinity to come down to a good range.

 

[jtf74]

If you’re using Rodi water and not dosing anything and using instant ocean salt if your dkh really is that high the only thing I can think Of that would cause your dkh to test that high is your salt level is right through the roof or your using the waiste water instead of the treated water coming out of your Rodi unit to mix your water change water

I suspect its a bad test if not dosing anything and

I honestly don’t know why people feel they need to feed rbta’s. About 1 1/2 years ago my buddy gave me 1/2 dozen of them when I first started my tank as testers to see if my tank would handle coral. In my opinion rbta are about as tough as they get and are hard to kill lol. If they don’t live usually nothing will lol. Anyway. Fast forward 6 months and those 6 nems covered a huge rock pile in my 560 gallon. When i finally decided I had enough of them I took out 96 of them. They were huge ones too not little tiny things. And I never directly fed them once. Provide good clean water with decent parameters and lots of light and these things will multiply like crazy. This is an old pic I found but they got to cover the rock pile more than this before I removed them all. They were starting to release and float around the tank to try to find a bare patch. They would have taken over the tank in no time....let us know what you get for a dkh using another kit. I don’t doubt one bit that if it’s acurate that’s your problem. Or you’re feeding it is causing problems. I’d stop right away..I can remember way back getting my first rbta thinking I needed to feed it and I used too quite frequently and it died on me. I know now I definitely over fed it. I should’ve just let it do it’s thing and grow from light. You’ll have healthier anenomes.

Good advice. When I bought my four the guy I bought from had 33 in his tank and told me he never fed them and all his looked better than any I'd ever seen. It seemed to go against what I had thought, but I brought them home and have never fed them either. Who knows how long he had them without feeding.

As far as your alk, if you haven't dosed anything and using RODI, I'm guessing your tests are no good.

 

[Spare time]

I wouldn't worry about that. Nems have the ability to move around until they find the conditions they want. If there was too much light, it would move to an area shielding it from some of the it.

A radion 5 inches from the water could easily produce par levels to bleache nearly anything in that size tank. However, OP said he only goes to 60% power max in a reply to my comment

 

[Ryde]

Again, wait it out.

The way you do that, is to test weekly, and monitor the drop in ALK.

In fact, it may be a good idea to do an Alkalinity test today. Then, do another alkalinity test at the same time tomorrow.

Subtract the number you get tomorrow from the number you get today and that will give you your consumption rate.

By doing this, you will be able to calculate how long it will take for your alkalinity to come down to a good range.

I tested today. So far it hasn't went down any I'll test again tomorrow and get back to you! Thank you.

 

[spiraling]

What is your salinity and how do you measure it?
With the few corals you have I doubt you will see much alk consumption. But it shouldn't be that high to begin with. Something is off. Your salinity and/or several of your test kits are not making sense.

 

[Ryde]

If you’re using Rodi water and not dosing anything and using instant ocean salt if your dkh really is that high the only thing I can think Of that would cause your dkh to test that high is your salt level is right through the roof or your using the waiste water instead of the treated water coming out of your Rodi unit to mix your water change water

Alright I keep my sanity at 1.025 and I do 4-6 gallon water changes a week. Next from what I mentioned before I haven't dosed any thing recently. Now I write down what I add/dosed or test in a note book.

So I went back and looked I apparently did dos alk when it was lower. Man.. only if I could have done that sooner. Sorry y'all.. @Cabinetman @spiraling @Dom @jtf47

 

[Ryde]

Two of us have mentioned it may be a water quality issue.

It's possible alk is the problem. You can swing PH when you adjust alk, so if you are going to lower it you should do it over several weeks. Before you lower it you need to know why it is high. rodi + you salt should not make it that high, unless your salinity is also really high, or you are dosing. CA of 480 is also high but not a problem at that level. I would certainly recommend getting the LFS to test if for you to make sure its not your test kit. They can check salinity as well.

Phospahte of 0 also isn't good, but if you are using API you probably cant get a good low reading.

Have you considered an ICP test on your tank? That would tell you all the amounts plus tell you if there are contaminants.

Okay a lot to take in lol. When my test kit is done for I'll switch to a better one. Next I went back through my log I keep for my tank. I found out I did dos alk a while back.

 

[spiraling]

Alright I keep my sanity at 1.025 and I do 4-6 gallon water changes a week. Next from what I mentioned before I haven't dosed any thing recently. Now I write down what I add/dosed or test in a note book.

So I went back and looked I apparently did dos alk when it was lower. Man.. only if I could have done that sooner. Sorry y'all..

Logging is great!

If you are using a hydrometer for salinity it may still be high. Those things suck. Your CA is also high, that's why I'm wondering if your salinity is actually high causing your other readings to be higher than expected. Can you take some water to an LFS and have them check it? Its usually free.

You can test your test kits easily. Mix up some fresh salt water, let it sit an hour, then test it with your kits. Each brand publishes the range it should be in for alk and ca, so you can compare what you get. If both CA and alk are high then its probably your salinity instead.


as a side note I like red sea test kit for alk, its easy.

 

[Ryde]

Logging is great!

If you are using a hydrometer for salinity it may still be high. Those things suck. Your CA is also high, that's why I'm wondering if your salinity is actually high causing your other readings to be higher than expected. Can you take some water to an LFS and have them check it? Its usually free.

You can test your test kits easily. Mix up some fresh salt water, let it sit an hour, then test it with your kits. Each brand publishes the range it should be in for alk and ca, so you can compare what you get.


as a side note I like red sea test kit for alk, its easy.

Yes I use a hydrometer when I do I test multiple times and take the average.. The higher calcium is done on purpose to promote coral growth. I could get my water tested at my lfs but it's 3 hours away lol. When I have time I'll take a trip down there. He has also test my water before and helped alot.

 

[spiraling]

Yes I use a hydrometer when I do I test multiple times and take the average.. The higher calcium is done on purpose to promote coral growth. I could get my water tested at my lfs but it's 3 hours away lol. When I have time I'll take a trip down there. He has also test my water before and helped alot.

I understand the drive. ugg, I have that too.

You might want to try lowering your alk over the next week and see if that helps. 8-9 is where most people keep it (I think). Scoop out some water and put in rodi a little at a time. Higher CA does promote growth, but higher alk coupled with lower nitrates/phosphates/ high light can hurt corals. Safer to keep that one in the middle.

 

[Ryde]

I understand the drive. ugg, I have that too.

You might want to try lowering your alk over the next week and see if that helps. 8-9 is where most people keep it (I think). Scoop out some water and put in rodi a little at a time. Higher CA does promote growth, but higher alk coupled with lower nitrates/phosphates/ high light can hurt corals. Safer to keep that one in the middle.

To be more specific this will effect salinity levels right? And if so should I and salt to bring it back up or what? Next how much water at a time like not even a gallon a day? Thanks

 

[spiraling]

To be more specific this will effect salinity levels right? And if so should I and salt to bring it back up or what? Next how much water at a time like not even a gallon a day? Thanks

Yes - rodi will lower salinity. You might want to try a bit, but your number, if correct, is good. I'm still suspicious of your number.
To lower alk you will need to do water changes with a salt that has lower alk than you have now. Which is all of them. I didn't see what you are using but look it up. Some salts are high alk and some lower. Just do more water changes with a lower alk salt and it will come down.

 

[Ryde]

Alright I tested alk again it was 16 or 280ppm. With the test kit I'm using I can't a super exact read. So I'm not sure on how much alk is consumed a day. @Dom

 

[Dom]

Alright I tested alk again it was 16 or 280ppm. With the test kit I'm using I can't a super exact read. So I'm not sure on how much alk is consumed a day. @Dom

what was your ALK yesterday?